Effects of activated protein C on postcardiac arrest microcirculation: An in vivo microscopy study

Abstract

Background The clinical symptoms and pathophysiologic mechanisms during and after ischaemia–reperfusion following cardiac arrest (CA) and successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) closely resemble those observed in patients with severe sepsis. Impairment of microcirculation and endothelial leakage seem to play key roles in the underlying pathophysiology. Recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) is the first drug being licensed for the treatment of severe sepsis in patients. Therefore, for the first time, we investigated effects of rhAPC on microhaemodynamic changes and endothelial leakage applying in vivo microscopy of postcapillary mesenteric venules after CA and CPR in rats. Methods After 6 min of CA, male Wistar rats were randomised into two groups ( n = 10) to receive rhAPC or placebo (0.9% NaCl). Sham-operated animals ( n = 10) served as non-ischaemic controls. At 360, 420, and 480 min after CA in vivo microscopy was performed to assess wall shear rate (WSR) and plasma extravasation (PE). Results Both treatment groups showed typical signs of impaired microcirculation and a severe endothelial leakage after CA at all time points studied when compared to the sham group. However, no significant differences between the treatment groups were observed with regard to WSR and PE. Conclusion Our results show that CA with consecutive successful CPR leads to a microcirculatory impairment closely resembling experimentally induced sepsis. Intriguingly, despite these similarities, rhAPC had no significant effects on WSR and PE. Our results strongly suggest that further mechanisms such as mast cell activation might play an important role and have therefore to be studied to elucidate the pathophysiology of “postresuscitation disease”.